Questions raised at meeting related to lack of trust in Board due to conflicting information and lack of transparency, eg at least 100 hospital jobs already lost, hidden in statistics, with conflicting figures of numbers of beds, and previous confirmation no bed losses emerging as untrue. Board conceded during meeting there have been bed losses, and declared unable to rule out further losses in future.

Manchester March Against Austerity, Tory Conference, 29th September

Members of group marched with DWHC banner, huge numbers, possibly 200,000 or more, in largest ever recorded demonstration in the North West. March dominated by ‘Save Our NHS’ presence. Chaos with coaches parking and picking up due to such huge numbers that police had not accounted for.

General

Discussion of responses to DWHC questions previously put to the Board. Board state Ernst and Young paid £470,000, whilst PR shows cost £170,000. Discussion of this waste of money, with emphasis that figures exclude over £1 million paid to Unipart.

SF confirmed DWHC’s limitations in supporting specific groups of workers within the hospital, and clarified full support for unions in taking action to protect hospital jobs and services. Following Jeremy Hunt’s refusal to allow 1% payrise for healthworkers, DWHC supports union action, including stike.

SF outlined improvement in relationship and communication with Board since Joe Liddane’s departure. Discussed email received by DWHC suggesting campaign did not emphasise Joe Liddane’s sudden departure, eg at what cost, how much was he paid as Chair, for how many hours, and was he paid off? And why is the Chief Executive still there. What role did she play in the debacle?

Discussion of concerns in cuts in ongoing social care, and recent media reports of totally inadequate 15 minute care visits. Suggestion made that members get elected to Board, SF clarified that Governors are appointed and Board members are appointed not elected. Whilst members could be elected as Governors they have almost no power or influence, eg were not aware of the sell-off until read it in media. Suggestion made to encourage DWHC members via emails to seek election as Governors.

ACTION: JL to email BR copy of Board questions and answers.

Foundation Trust application

Final submittance date now put back to Dec 2014 for all FT applications. PR confirmed will attend next Board meeting 23rd October, and will ask Board for expected submittance date.

SF emphasised concerns at hospital’s dependence on winning bids for community care, and on early discharge. Possibility that Whittington might merge with UCLH or Royal Free if FT application fails. BR stated not merger but acquisition, general agreement would be similar to free school takeover.

Chase Farm

BR, ‘Save Chase Farm’ campaign and NE London Council of Action, updated on campaign and call for Judicial Review, full support expected from council for legal challenge of the closure. DWHC expressed full support to Chase Farm campaign, and general acknowledgment Chase Farm closure mooted as alternative to closure of Whittington A&E throughout DWHC’s A&E campaign. BR described court already ruled police were wrong to evict occupation at hospital following demonstration in February.

Planned demonstartaion for 26th October

ACTION: BR to email DWHC Chase Farm leaflet to put on website.

Website

Thanks expressed to TM for all his excellent work maintaining and updating the website.

Encouragement given to people to utilise the comments pages as a forum to generate discussion, also Facebook and Twitter.

People’s Inquiry: London’s NHS, Friday 1st November 2013, 2-7pm, Archway Methodist Hall, panel including Roy Lilley, Polly Toynbee and opportunity to present oral testimony. Part of a London-wide series of public hearings collating evidence on the NHS.

Islington Left Unity meeting: NHS privatisation, Tuesday 15th October, 7pm, Old Fire sTation, Mayton St. No-one currently available from DWHC to speak

Whittington Patients Consultative Meeting, 5th December

AOB

PR described attempts to resolve difficulties with Archway Co-op not displaying DWHC literature, JL described similar problems and no community board, despite recent upgrading of store. PR confirmed will be attending next South Eastern Co-operative meeting and will pose questions to try to resolve in accordance with the Co-op’s established commitment to supporting community groups.

What we are fighting for

* We are opposed to the rundown, closure or privatisation of all hospitals and hospital departments and any other key health services in North London.

* We want to stop the sell-off of our NHS.

* We call for the repeal of the Health and Social Care Act - the government measure which opened the way for big private companies to take over our hospitals and health services and shut them down if they don't make enough profit.

* We call for full funding of our NHS to meet our health needs, free at the point of delivery.

* We are proud of our caring staff at the Hospital, and welcome the diversity of the staff.